tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37699511716361499862024-03-14T09:33:58.153+00:00The History of the Republic of Ireland Football teamThe History of the Republic of Ireland Football teamPeter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-65784825254410861982012-10-13T12:19:00.001+01:002012-10-13T12:19:41.806+01:00Dear oh dear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqsTvUsjJhg2w83ncCybdes0QWoEpTR30WmmJtUzH76CiRvk-sah2GgIOD7GQQwboqWq2u2BKZLeJmnFzz10CoEJLrq1DB5NUCWY65OSsN_hSN2FLOfnKK6qwefs5QYUjN5MjzeqFPcw/s1600/The-Germany-forward-Marco-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqsTvUsjJhg2w83ncCybdes0QWoEpTR30WmmJtUzH76CiRvk-sah2GgIOD7GQQwboqWq2u2BKZLeJmnFzz10CoEJLrq1DB5NUCWY65OSsN_hSN2FLOfnKK6qwefs5QYUjN5MjzeqFPcw/s320/The-Germany-forward-Marco-008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Dear, oh dear, that was humiliating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">That really wasn't very good, I fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Reus</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"> and Őzil
bossed us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">made us feel we were imposters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and the mauling dished out cost us dear, oh dear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Jesus Christ, now that was an embarrassment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">as through our ranks they effortlessly sliced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">They were standing round and joking,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">some were drinking schnapps and smoking<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and we ended up invoking Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">A mauling was what the Germans gave us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">The gulf in class was utterly appalling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">We dithered convolutedly,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">bewildered fans gazed mutedly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">on what was undisputedly a mauling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Consolation? Well, the teamwork of the Germans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">was worthy of grudging-given ovation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Little Big Horn? General Custer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">They exposed our brawn and bluster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and our final goal was just a consolation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Ambition now is just to finish second<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">if we can bounce back from this attrition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For it wasn't very nice now<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">and it’s hard to give advice now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;">Paddy Power, son, what price now our ambition?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-IE" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE;"><i>Ireland 1 Germany 6 (WC 2014 Qualifier)</i></span></div>
Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-43633336368640851842012-06-26T08:42:00.001+01:002012-06-26T08:43:53.952+01:00Haiku<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCsTPThQV8sctFL-FACI1ZbkEsVU12yq7LYP8SldV6MkWeiRMujdItpFxnRbOPFsKlFaJ-OqTMFECA_2NDzRAEWCHpq9wyqKpg4IBOc0QgYNFXDWXdp9VMlwHcK3FdnO9YkFHd2RrDcU/s1600/Shay-Given.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCsTPThQV8sctFL-FACI1ZbkEsVU12yq7LYP8SldV6MkWeiRMujdItpFxnRbOPFsKlFaJ-OqTMFECA_2NDzRAEWCHpq9wyqKpg4IBOc0QgYNFXDWXdp9VMlwHcK3FdnO9YkFHd2RrDcU/s320/Shay-Given.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Long balls Given away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Keane but never in the Hunt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Performances Duff.</span>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-73588749107290390662012-06-25T20:26:00.002+01:002012-06-25T20:26:46.129+01:00Five seconds of fame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Five seconds of fame, you’re up on the big screen.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, you, the one who can’t believe his eyes,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">with silly hat and face all painted green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The game itself is mundane and routine.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(The whistle blows more than you realise.)</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Five seconds of fame, you’re up on the big screen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It takes some time to lose your puzzled sheen</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">before you jump and holler with surprise,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">with silly hat and face all painted green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You shake the girlfriend till she bursts her spleen,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">pointing wildly up into the skies.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Five seconds of fame! You’re up on the big screen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But by the time she’s clued in to the scene,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the camera’s panned away to other guys</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">with silly hats and faces painted green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You hope it’s taped, and no-one wipes it clean,</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">so you can reminisce when old and wise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Five seconds of fame, we were up on the big screen.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>with silly hats and faces painted green.</em></span><br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-9968374621365063222012-06-20T17:29:00.002+01:002012-06-20T17:29:59.877+01:00Italy 2 Ireland 0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaA1aL1zQJcpuDWsBElnJ58R87VgVw8-SsrPXOMQ3eGEyaVtHkO_MGzV3b2RyQC3Q6PicqF0c_YHlnceZEtLbESgziVu6Yn9H_C5CTFjf518gCn2WhVu5ymwsDSfEQNX0KtRDnRRMNl8/s1600/Italy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaA1aL1zQJcpuDWsBElnJ58R87VgVw8-SsrPXOMQ3eGEyaVtHkO_MGzV3b2RyQC3Q6PicqF0c_YHlnceZEtLbESgziVu6Yn9H_C5CTFjf518gCn2WhVu5ymwsDSfEQNX0KtRDnRRMNl8/s320/Italy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s the end of the Euros as we know it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When we needed it fast, we chose to slow it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The gulf was too great for us to row it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The grass was too long for us to mow it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The rip was too large for us to sew it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our baggage was too big for us to stow it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had to play our best. We played below it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was hard for the fanciful poet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We bought champagne but had to forego it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We were downcast but chose not to show it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The performance improved much, although it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes seemed we were trying to throw it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We’d a free kick but couldn’t Pirlo it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We’d a dream but conspired to blow it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yes, it’s the end of the Euros as we know it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and I feel...</span><br />
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<br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-4089867266538423872012-06-20T17:05:00.002+01:002012-06-20T17:05:20.208+01:00Oh Lord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIOeXdXEr83Z7cj6FqjKADpSZUcWYsvqOyHUWbtxC-0jHOggcsEURodlN5IsKb3EnXlv6dvm7vGkTG69Q6cijZtWZE-PcwUcFHk_-Kx9ChC1ce050t97IhQiEuQ3tAy3sYNc1D6VQJqg/s1600/trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIOeXdXEr83Z7cj6FqjKADpSZUcWYsvqOyHUWbtxC-0jHOggcsEURodlN5IsKb3EnXlv6dvm7vGkTG69Q6cijZtWZE-PcwUcFHk_-Kx9ChC1ce050t97IhQiEuQ3tAy3sYNc1D6VQJqg/s320/trap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh Lord, give us something to shout about,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to make us forget all our woes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Something we’ll be able to spout about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">wherever the sweet Guinness flows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A deft Houghton header?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A great Whelan screamer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Am I too demanding?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Am I just a dreamer?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh Lord, give us something to shout about,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to make us forget all our woes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh Lord, give us something to scream about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">amid all the trouble and strife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Something that we all can dream about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">when we’re making love to the wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Sheedy grass-cutter?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Niall Quinn tap-in?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">An O’Leary peno?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh please make it happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh Lord, give us something to scream about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">amid all the trouble and strife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh Lord, give us something to talk about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and we promise we’ll stay clear of sin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh, don’t let our defence go walkabout</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and don’t let an early goal in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Ray Houghton volley?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Robbie Keane rocket?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A Gary Breen flick on?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh don’t let them block it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh Lord, give us something to talk about</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and we promise we’ll stay clear of sin.</span><br />
<br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-5844297047913221422012-06-17T05:57:00.004+01:002012-06-17T05:57:49.665+01:00The Fields in Gdansk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsKfXPsIcRxcBrzL3vhndCJZNcOlq4djpZkCZp6lU6GvSmQlyVV65ghnqNk3Vnn3ndqCZKHLT2tYZtUAn6XzAdRDD76hTo0KMxgy8JZapS5GmPnaOTXbYjisIrrdvVMivDuE0xsuSbaU/s1600/Ireland-Fans-Euro-2012-469x317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsKfXPsIcRxcBrzL3vhndCJZNcOlq4djpZkCZp6lU6GvSmQlyVV65ghnqNk3Vnn3ndqCZKHLT2tYZtUAn6XzAdRDD76hTo0KMxgy8JZapS5GmPnaOTXbYjisIrrdvVMivDuE0xsuSbaU/s320/Ireland-Fans-Euro-2012-469x317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Outplayed, outclassed, outsmarted,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the Irish team kept fighting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All hope had long departed,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the wall replete with writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Downcast, distraught, dejected,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">we watched the savage mauling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our rear was not protected.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Spanish wolves came crawling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But then we were dumbfounded</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">as church bells started ringing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A mighty roar resounded –</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ten thousand voices singing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Neck-hairs stood to attention.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">No longer were we dismayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We signalled our intention,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">although outclassed and outplayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Written in response to Kerry's challenge to write a Celtic quatrain at <strong><span style="background-color: red;"><a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2012/06/mini-challenge-for-sunday-celtic.html">Toads</a></span></strong></em></span>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-3178214575110088872012-06-15T16:06:00.000+01:002012-06-15T16:06:46.394+01:00Bigmouth strikes yet again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8mamtkV-pj1GoT6yHAzriPKql24jb7SMLXAf8oFPLll5bDAl5tPnkBetkGMHq9ejalfWCXtD5cN0hHGB_0pvc4fDj-JAfgvZdL7CHJSetnYajsyn_9Fo_osfNqezdtI2ElUjxYv1soQ/s1600/Roy+keane,+ITV+pundit+for+Euro+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8mamtkV-pj1GoT6yHAzriPKql24jb7SMLXAf8oFPLll5bDAl5tPnkBetkGMHq9ejalfWCXtD5cN0hHGB_0pvc4fDj-JAfgvZdL7CHJSetnYajsyn_9Fo_osfNqezdtI2ElUjxYv1soQ/s320/Roy+keane,+ITV+pundit+for+Euro+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I really don’t care what Roy Keane says.<br />
I really don’t care very much.<br />
He’ll rant and he’ll rave <br />
till he goes to the grave.<br />
Now he’s telling the Irish fans how to behave.<br />
Oh, I really don’t care what Roy Keane says<br />
because he is so out of touch.<br />
<br />
I really don’t care what Roy Keane says<br />
to get himself back in the news.<br />
He’ll walk his damned pup <br />
and he’ll never shut up<br />
until by some miracle we win the World Cup.<br />
Oh, I really don’t care what Roy Keane says<br />
and I don’t give a damn for his views.<br />
<br />
I really don’t care what Roy Keane says.<br />
I don’t want to hear the man speak.<br />
This is the man<br />
wouldn’t play in Iran,<br />
then threw a big hissy fit out in Saipan.<br />
No, I really don’t care what Roy Keane says.<br />
The man has a terrible cheek.<br />
<br />
I really don’t care what Roy Keane says.<br />
I really don’t care what he does.<br />
His comments mean naught to me.<br />
This poem seems short to me<br />
(Where the traitor’s concerned, maybe that’s how it ought to be)<br />
No, I really don’t care what Roy Keane says<br />
for Roy doesn’t represent us.<br />
<br />
<em>Roy criticises Irish team and, bizarrely, Irish fans for their sing-song mentality. Both team and fans, he said, need to change their attitude. Maybe instead of singing in defeat, the fans should go on the rampage, or slink silently away?</em>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-52831621913288909522012-06-15T09:24:00.001+01:002012-06-15T09:24:55.182+01:00Little consolation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPnJNNK5cVBcG3q4htFFfXbxydf6pn7ZNk7xbNsZtyVFelS4JsXlURX9neL4cAHvlrtOGmHrIjPq7jl_ke7Wf1kQL4w1z3dCeVdcoAzy-srEpw6gclxlqPSHkvg4FLH2BwpI0C26_nAo/s1600/shay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPnJNNK5cVBcG3q4htFFfXbxydf6pn7ZNk7xbNsZtyVFelS4JsXlURX9neL4cAHvlrtOGmHrIjPq7jl_ke7Wf1kQL4w1z3dCeVdcoAzy-srEpw6gclxlqPSHkvg4FLH2BwpI0C26_nAo/s320/shay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s of little consolation</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that they say that we were plucky;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that, alas, on this occasion,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">we were just a tad unlucky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the moment we’re deflated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">at our quick elimination</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the spirit demonstrated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">is of little consolation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s of little consolation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that the plaudits keep on flying</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">for our steeled determination</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the way we kept on trying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For they took us to the cleaners</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">with a joyous affirmation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the gulf in class between us</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">is of little consolation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s of little consolation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that they say that Spain are giants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They fulfilled their reputation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and brushed off our grim defiance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They’ve been eulogised and feted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">as the greatest football nation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but (it can’t be overstated)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that’s of little consolation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s of little consolation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that the scoreline wasn’t greater;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that the goal-count calculation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">didn’t need a calculator.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Though we narrowly averted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">a complete humiliation,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">their chances not converted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">are of little consolation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s of little consolation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that our fans could not stop singing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">in the fierce precipitation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that left each supporter wringing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Though downhearted and frustrated,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">they maintained our reputation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but the humour generated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">is of little consolation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s of little consolation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that there’s hope on the horizon;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that the coming generation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">means our stock should soon be risin’.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For we’re caught up in the story</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">of last night’s sad consternation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the hope of future glory</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">is of little consolation.</span><br />
<br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-82521225813313586542012-06-14T03:06:00.003+01:002012-06-14T03:06:53.259+01:00Incantation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRTxNLBn8B-3sw1qUSbNWigpj0iehsJ-ATV2tm4QcnAF3Sf8ymEJvnEh57Vw0MZT_o0cPYMhzhwWsaPauKDz8gSNeFYI8v_F2pDkjND8I5TOwwEuu_tn91W4lo_FILYQ1XySyLdW3vF4/s1600/cauldron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRTxNLBn8B-3sw1qUSbNWigpj0iehsJ-ATV2tm4QcnAF3Sf8ymEJvnEh57Vw0MZT_o0cPYMhzhwWsaPauKDz8gSNeFYI8v_F2pDkjND8I5TOwwEuu_tn91W4lo_FILYQ1XySyLdW3vF4/s320/cauldron.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eye of toad and chin of elk;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">leg of worm and jaw of whelk;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">shamrock leaf and mildew’d fungus</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(for the sugar-tongued among us);</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ragglewort and liverfluke;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">camel’s spit and baby’s puke;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">deadly nightshade, picked and pressed;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">milk from alligator’s breast;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">blood of dodo, hair of Rooney,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ear of bat and smile of Clooney;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">claw of bullfinch, herring’s nipple;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">double vodka (or a triple);</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and as you stir this strange creation,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">chant the sacred incantation –</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>“Let Alonso’s big toe fester;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>strain the groin of Iniesta;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>tug the ligaments of Xavi;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>let Busquets lose his football savvy;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>spread butter on Casillas’ fingers;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>make sure Arbeloa malingers;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>let Jordi Alba’s muscles crumble;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>let Ramos’s appendix rumble;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>let Silva’s legs begin to stumble;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>let Fabregas’s stock now tumble;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>let violent sores o’errun Piqué;</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>but, most of all, let Torres play.”</em></span><br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-39015158257310886542012-06-11T09:14:00.001+01:002012-06-11T09:14:30.356+01:00The morning after<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgoYHeaAxFn3waJg2PC0NNx6UONP0AcJwgeh85nEMNE-sCAbhmcNkWZ5N_LBHmgedNjlVKq5-jxNyaPxkdAjD9lD8AavUxqzDtSTpXmuGJFHB0z4MO3gu8MZc_pkEEm8L1FPHorpgiEc/s1600/2012-06-10T210702Z_01_AA91_RTRIDSP_3_SOCCER-EURO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgoYHeaAxFn3waJg2PC0NNx6UONP0AcJwgeh85nEMNE-sCAbhmcNkWZ5N_LBHmgedNjlVKq5-jxNyaPxkdAjD9lD8AavUxqzDtSTpXmuGJFHB0z4MO3gu8MZc_pkEEm8L1FPHorpgiEc/s320/2012-06-10T210702Z_01_AA91_RTRIDSP_3_SOCCER-EURO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes we can’t do the unexpected;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we can’t upset the odds;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we just feel so dejected</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and wonder why we’ve irked the football gods.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes Shay Given proves he’s mortal;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes hard graft is not enough;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we look back through time’s portal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and hearken for a younger Keane and Duff.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes our errors will be pounced on;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes our passes go astray;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">our optimistic nature will be bounced on</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and all our hopes and dreams will melt away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes we’re punished for our messin’;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we’ll punch at our true weight;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we will be taught a lesson;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we’re frowned upon by fate.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes we get a sinking feeling;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes we will not scale the heights;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">sometimes reality comes stealing;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">last night proved to be one of those nights.</span>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-31331966738403636032012-06-11T07:56:00.003+01:002012-06-11T07:58:01.997+01:00Back with a whimper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fIBIArsHWGLuKr5W-RyV9DHUhPsLZHkgDixs-VnaNwxQrDIdsWrE9m124Nl69D6aIf0nNIm8pcnp_f5_Nlzu3jkHWTejf_Jf5_m_E7Ec9S3yNxFL0nGF807jEtzwHgn1_BZc-KzHyZI/s1600/Croatia-Ireland-3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fIBIArsHWGLuKr5W-RyV9DHUhPsLZHkgDixs-VnaNwxQrDIdsWrE9m124Nl69D6aIf0nNIm8pcnp_f5_Nlzu3jkHWTejf_Jf5_m_E7Ec9S3yNxFL0nGF807jEtzwHgn1_BZc-KzHyZI/s320/Croatia-Ireland-3-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Make a mistake in the qualifiers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and you may ride your luck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Make mistakes in the finals</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and you come unstuck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So they put us under pressure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and we made mistakes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We could have recovered </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but they got the breaks.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the highest level</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">we must retain the ball</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">if we’re going to have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">any chance at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For they’re so damn ruthless</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">when they get a sniff,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that it takes but a second</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to send our dreams skew-whiff.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The first was a header</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">from a long way out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">there didn’t really seem to be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">any danger about,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but it swung deceptively,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">swooped in like a ghost,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">crept in like a demon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">just inside the post.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The second was a gift,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">a stray pass from Ward,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">when presents were the thing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">we could least afford.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And although he was fouled</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">when he tried to clear,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the ref didn’t see it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and the price was dear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The third was regrettable;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">we stood off too long,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">allowed time for the cross,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">which was firm and strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The header flashed in,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">hit the post, rebounded,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">went in off Shay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">as he stretched out grounded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But we’d cause to cheer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">with St. Ledger’s goal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">to show the world we’d sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">still in the bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And all is not lost now,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">although we feel the pain –</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">we’ll be right back on track, boys,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">when we hammer Spain.</span><br />
<br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-71164268811263729702012-06-09T06:17:00.000+01:002012-06-09T06:17:38.530+01:00Jonnie Walters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZyUV1oitf88MMWBImsD9ORuntQ8Ciow2RsMRMiqm1DsYtExox89dj6TVGPNsvRV20m1cYO47h16hCDDJzQKECCISPW4yi_WfrZFXCeWgqGuqneLJZp7Pv5tKq3lH81hh9tPx2ruKTSU/s1600/3244527.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZyUV1oitf88MMWBImsD9ORuntQ8Ciow2RsMRMiqm1DsYtExox89dj6TVGPNsvRV20m1cYO47h16hCDDJzQKECCISPW4yi_WfrZFXCeWgqGuqneLJZp7Pv5tKq3lH81hh9tPx2ruKTSU/s320/3244527.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Fist-pumping, awkward-jumping,<br />
arms, elbows, knees bumping,<br />
sharp-cunning, strong-running,<br />
lack of grace, in your face,<br />
always in the right place,<br />
finger-licking, high-kicking,<br />
watch the centre-backs bricking,<br />
hard-shooting, executing,<br />
pushing, fowling, disemboweling,<br />
lurking, prowling, grunting, growling,<br />
big, ugly, always scowling,<br />
brave, fearless, mighty, peerless,<br />
old-fashioned, highly-passioned,<br />
barrel-chested, never bested,<br />
every ball contested,<br />
head-splitting, hard-hitting,<br />
unthinkable, unsinkable,<br />
sabre-rattling, always battling,<br />
plundering and thundering,<br />
tearing-folks-asunder-ing,<br />
shoving, pushing, grappling, rushing,<br />
flying tackle, bone-crushing,<br />
goal-getting, target-setting,<br />
often ends up in the netting,<br />
Edith Piaf, no regretting,<br />
man-o’-war, dinosaur,<br />
matador, conquistador,<br />
axe-blow through the bathroom door,<br />
heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s<br />
Jonnie!<br />
<br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-34887143678953115452012-06-07T00:26:00.001+01:002012-06-07T00:27:38.259+01:00Euro 2012 D Day Minus 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Z6nASYgwq9SRoneN-aNE42KBkvG931GtKJeyivAts2D4ZDHwKj09vjh1JPgRSqoHu7nDyxVdtwdx2uRe1pg6QLspYyUl5WranKqpGnI8ur9B26brIxBFcV3nTMOxyRCEcvEIt-n34c/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Z6nASYgwq9SRoneN-aNE42KBkvG931GtKJeyivAts2D4ZDHwKj09vjh1JPgRSqoHu7nDyxVdtwdx2uRe1pg6QLspYyUl5WranKqpGnI8ur9B26brIxBFcV3nTMOxyRCEcvEIt-n34c/s320/untitled.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’ve been out searching frantically for bunting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but seemingly I’ve left it far too late.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In every store, I’ve been reduced to grunting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">when shop assistants tell it to me straight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All I wanted was to decorate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the little patch of land my house is fronting,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but sadly, I had too much on my plate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and now I’ve gone and missed the boat for bunting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Did no-one think the country might need bunting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and ship it in from China by the crate?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Or is this poxy Euro crisis blunting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the business acumen within the state?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My fruitless search has now begun to grate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">but I’ve no option but to go on hunting,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">unless I want to be (in our estate)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">the only sap without a bit of bunting.</span><br />
<br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-17574242720957653492012-06-06T08:57:00.001+01:002012-06-06T08:57:22.083+01:00Euro 2012 D Day Minus 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMP8mBGePallQY_hvy6oeAzk_-Lzlad7reKh5H4mbmKybS6AJx9mOK9Lk5eeQ7cBMUd-g4v-x1mMFkxECehiN8zvuzi2ShfdTd96d7NTrp6nZ0Q4JziRdHVwreAuUVMebZzBYkKAujH0/s1600/Ireland+v+Georgia+FIFA2010+World+Cup+Qualifier+BSnFVdthzGnl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMP8mBGePallQY_hvy6oeAzk_-Lzlad7reKh5H4mbmKybS6AJx9mOK9Lk5eeQ7cBMUd-g4v-x1mMFkxECehiN8zvuzi2ShfdTd96d7NTrp6nZ0Q4JziRdHVwreAuUVMebZzBYkKAujH0/s320/Ireland+v+Georgia+FIFA2010+World+Cup+Qualifier+BSnFVdthzGnl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And so,<br />
days before a major Finals,<br />
an Irish midfielder breaks ranks,<br />
skips past the despairing lunge<br />
of a thick-skulled manager,<br />
and runs to the arms of the press,<br />
complaining about training.<br />
<br />
Quite unprecedented, of course.<br />
<br />
Oh, Aiden,<br />
ask poor Kevin Foley if he thought <br />
training was too draining.<br />
I’m sure the Black Sea in June<br />
is very beautiful. Can you imagine yourself<br />
stretched out, dozing on a sunbed<br />
as we take the field in Poznan?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/mcgeady-irish-squad-is-jaded-3128937.html">http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/mcgeady-irish-squad-is-jaded-3128937.html</a> <br />Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-63134364929976406342011-11-20T14:34:00.003+00:002011-11-20T14:35:28.070+00:00Paper Planes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8LII124yDfSq4aC4riZ1-T9b6fMPbxGjpkdKXT3e1rtCZDMcbMLIai-M44pzL2RdYgUI2fv2MLPqDjiGrN6uNQjxNO2iUa0c2FWvKFozzLcUehyphenhyphenPQlO2_rU3tyugPHWkKN2xxwL4nHg/s1600/576440.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677086336855692802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8LII124yDfSq4aC4riZ1-T9b6fMPbxGjpkdKXT3e1rtCZDMcbMLIai-M44pzL2RdYgUI2fv2MLPqDjiGrN6uNQjxNO2iUa0c2FWvKFozzLcUehyphenhyphenPQlO2_rU3tyugPHWkKN2xxwL4nHg/s400/576440.jpg" /></a> The crowd’s collective roar<br />made the paper planes soar,<br />some crashing into the stand,<br />others reaching the pitch<br />and landing smoothly, which<br />elicited a big hand.<br />How they circled and soared,<br />our long-held dreams on board<br />before coming in to land!<br /><br />Defying all the odds,<br />we sit up with the gods<br />and sing loud that old refrain<br />of Olé, Olé, Olés,<br />pre-empting summer days<br />in Poland or the Ukraine.<br />The Irish spirit sings,<br />borne on the fragile wings<br />of each tiny paper plane.<br /><br /><div></div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-5643239526074548812011-11-20T14:29:00.003+00:002011-11-20T14:33:59.116+00:00In Estonia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDLMSb7vBA19YgJ62RLTiQc7R2Yc4_6LMvyR7OonI_r7r3B66gB1LYQFJOwVfLzRxw2bohcZWiXVnuqs5MS0EUMFZSdAN0GsojYHrvmvsKCoxGFSuzkUiTYnc_sy4mr5dAdXEc8hRsyY/s1600/imagesCAA3DK1F.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677085445280672130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDLMSb7vBA19YgJ62RLTiQc7R2Yc4_6LMvyR7OonI_r7r3B66gB1LYQFJOwVfLzRxw2bohcZWiXVnuqs5MS0EUMFZSdAN0GsojYHrvmvsKCoxGFSuzkUiTYnc_sy4mr5dAdXEc8hRsyY/s400/imagesCAA3DK1F.jpg" /></a>Estonia – the name fills us with dread<br />and makes the path ahead stonier.<br />We leave, armed with scarf, voice, hope and rattle<br />to do battle in Estonia.<br /><br />The chill of winter grips the barren land<br />and throttles the fair begonia.<br />Will we too wilt on the frozen mire<br />or light a fire in Estonia?<br /><br />Bony is the wolf, cloudy his thick breath<br />but death’s long fingers are bonier.<br />We must not flinch but grasp the flaming bough<br />that beckons now in Estonia.<br /><br />How pleasant now seem the far-flung mountains<br />and fountains of Patagonia!<br />Easier to scale them all than begin<br />to hope to win in Estonia.<br /><br />Timid and caution, get thee hence to bed –<br />faint heart is wed to pneumonia.<br />Our battle cry must make the pale moon glow<br />and strike a blow in Estonia.<br /><br />FIFA’s sympathy last time was phony<br />but our baloney was phonier.<br />Let us hope that this time we’ll get it right<br />this Friday night in Estonia.<br /><br /><em>Written as part of an exercise at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-gymryd-anadl.html to write a poem using the archaic Welsh form, the toddaid.<br /></em>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-61248044429870947592011-09-08T20:37:00.003+01:002011-09-08T20:40:50.995+01:00Richard Dunne Colossus of Moscow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeR9YApFdCzNkNdiLb69_Ioj17vxrDGT7-DY66VNunfkWkbovVNvM6pFYzk8tS_tXU6S9FmuY3l-VlD1Nbd75fKlYWStY82hwWe-ObHdkRip1KrQLo-kddr1S8uF4gCIUT7QeMFLLG10/s1600/Russia-v-Rep-of-Ireland-Richard-Dunne_2646792.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650075482630514226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeR9YApFdCzNkNdiLb69_Ioj17vxrDGT7-DY66VNunfkWkbovVNvM6pFYzk8tS_tXU6S9FmuY3l-VlD1Nbd75fKlYWStY82hwWe-ObHdkRip1KrQLo-kddr1S8uF4gCIUT7QeMFLLG10/s400/Russia-v-Rep-of-Ireland-Richard-Dunne_2646792.jpg" /></a><br />Loudly the guns and artillery sounded,<br />upon our defences the Russian shells pounded,<br />but fears of a massacre proved quite unfounded,<br />for though we were quite overrun,<br />the Russians could only stare at us, dumbfounded<br />by the exploits of one Richard Dunne.<br /><br />He rallied the troops with a rearguard action,<br />cautioned the line to avoid all distraction<br />and while the foe railed against every infraction,<br />he just glared in the September sun.<br />Arshavin and co derived no satisfaction<br />from the man-mountain called Richard Dunne.<br /><br />Cannon in front of him volleyed and thundered<br />but he stepped in the breach when a comrade had blundered.<br />Was this a single man? Was it a hundred<br />that stopped all their missiles for fun?<br />The men from the east drank their vodka and wondered<br />at the demi-god called Richard Dunne.<br /><br />Forward, still forward, the Russian ranks flooded<br />but he was unbowed though battered and bloodied,<br />his face bathed in sweat and engagingly bloodied<br />as the web of a legend was spun.<br />Many years on, the videotape will be studied<br />of the colossal, impassive,<br />undefeatably massive,<br />Herculean Richard Dunne.<br /><br />(<em>I thought Paul McGrath's performance against Italy in the Giants Stadium in 1994 would never be surpassed but oh my God, Richard Dunne was incredible against the Russians</em>)<br /><br /><div></div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-63473875259286572942011-04-05T17:10:00.002+01:002011-04-05T17:14:03.978+01:00Putting on a show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR1cJ_0bo1lVjz_djDHBP_uNslSy9gai-2fc1p5i3tBsoh_jrqE7nbW_436ONE27hcjMGNahNFWAX8lxPbS6I6ZD96minyckmHstEj4v9cWOa9NsiGtWEFr_TpKQC5sU1IA_ON5HwDg4/s1600/re21.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 235px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592132824392206178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXR1cJ_0bo1lVjz_djDHBP_uNslSy9gai-2fc1p5i3tBsoh_jrqE7nbW_436ONE27hcjMGNahNFWAX8lxPbS6I6ZD96minyckmHstEj4v9cWOa9NsiGtWEFr_TpKQC5sU1IA_ON5HwDg4/s400/re21.jpg" /></a> <br /><br />Go and see La Scala, is Trap’s answer <br />to those who think we should put on a show. <br />Certainly there’s no exotic dancer <br />among the likes of Keane and Dunne and co. <br /><br />Kevin Doyle cannot sing Nessun Dorma, <br />Kev Kilbane is no Maria Callas. <br />Darren O’Dea’s a reliable performer <br />but only versus sides like Crystal Palace. <br /><br />There’s nothing that would last a week on Broadway <br />nor run for half a week in the West End. <br />We beat the Macs in something of a flawed way, <br />forced for lengthy periods to defend. <br /><br />But when, in eight months time, the final curtain <br />comes down on our bid for qualification, <br />if we’ve won through, one thing will be certain – <br />they’re going to get one rapturous ovation. <br /><br /><em>An ugly win over Macedonia is not to Eamonn Dunphy's liking</em>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-31391981036724755232011-03-12T22:32:00.001+00:002011-03-12T22:35:27.988+00:00The ballad of Jermaine Pennant<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLCoxs6yjYfKHMvcJd6oxbJEk_CJPE8t4wzOyO6ZCzSfhGR27wgDzXqxyJWBzZC8e-B3wWLEUIzAGyJg4fIrvngGWshXxoy6UyvX3iqSMQroyVzc0rKCBwk5RVLI00z7U3B8rwtJkP1Q/s1600/Jermaine-Pennant_2506867.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583325128193155474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLCoxs6yjYfKHMvcJd6oxbJEk_CJPE8t4wzOyO6ZCzSfhGR27wgDzXqxyJWBzZC8e-B3wWLEUIzAGyJg4fIrvngGWshXxoy6UyvX3iqSMQroyVzc0rKCBwk5RVLI00z7U3B8rwtJkP1Q/s400/Jermaine-Pennant_2506867.jpg" /></a> (<em>The 28 year old Stoke midfielder has just discovered an Irish grandfather and wants to play for the Republic)<br /></em><div></div><br />The morning sun fell lightly on<br />the boots of Jermaine Pennant,<br />in a lonely training centre<br />in an English midlands town.<br />It could have been him, perhaps,<br />winning international caps,<br />but his team-mates had all flown off<br />and Jermaine was feeling down.<br /><br /><em>At the age of twenty eight,<br />he realised he’d never play<br />for England in the World Cup<br />with the warm wind in his hair.<br />The hotline had stopped ringing,<br />so he stood there softly singing<br />English folk songs that he’d memorised<br />in his daddy’s easy chair.</em><br /><br />International weeks were murder,<br />the training ground was bare,<br />and there were oh so many ways<br />for him to spend the day.<br />He could practise throws like Rory’s<br />or tell himself bright stories,<br />or dribble round the static cones<br />that lined up in his way.<br /><br /><em>At the age of twenty eight,<br />he realised he’d never play<br />for England in the World Cup<br />with the warm wind in his hair.<br />The hotline had stopped ringing,<br />so he stood there softly singing<br />English folk songs that he’d memorised<br />in his daddy’s easy chair.<br /><br /></em>The evening sun fell lightly on<br />the boots of Jermaine Pennant<br />as he sat in his apartment<br />with his mobile at his side.<br />It takes a certain irrationality<br />to change your nationality,<br />and he sat there softly dreaming<br />of the greener grass outside.<br /><br /><em>At the age of twenty eight,<br />he thought that he might play<br />for Ireland in the World Cup<br />with the warm wind in his hair.<br />The telephone was ringing,<br />but he sat there softly singing<br />Irish rebel songs he’d memorised<br />in Grand-daddy’s easy chair.<br /></em>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-77768682076868885092009-12-05T21:43:00.002+00:002011-04-05T17:16:34.151+01:00Casting the first stone<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr9vPE2waWq6ia61T1crWyygwfJVaXJEAZXnvNUYDqu0oOLzco2lvOuY8cM54fiwTuiEC5YPhNPe2xzLxYe-FZuOOlJEyJmUTESUImCH7wE5dcB3wG7iBMC_IBkajxmQjXkBO5VErVXA/s1600-h/Thierry%2520Henry%2520hand%2520ball.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411871201867844114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOr9vPE2waWq6ia61T1crWyygwfJVaXJEAZXnvNUYDqu0oOLzco2lvOuY8cM54fiwTuiEC5YPhNPe2xzLxYe-FZuOOlJEyJmUTESUImCH7wE5dcB3wG7iBMC_IBkajxmQjXkBO5VErVXA/s400/Thierry%2520Henry%2520hand%2520ball.jpg" border="0" /></a> If ever I was in the situation,<br />There’s one thing that could never be denied.<br />I’d gladly take the worldwide approbation<br />If it meant that Ireland qualified.<br /><br />I’d fall down in the box like Michael Owen,<br />Like Drogba and Ronaldo always do.<br />I’d punch the ball like Maradonna, knowin’<br />It might well help my country to get through.<br /><br />So all of you with knives out for Thierry,<br />All you so keen to label him with shame.<br />I’d ask you all to be a little wary –<br />Don’t you think that you’d have done the same? <br /></div><br /><br /><em>On the other hand </em>- <br /><br />Revenge on the French<br /><br />Irish-French relations, the entente between our nations,<br />Has always been extremely cordiale.<br />We share a common bond against our neighbours cross the pond<br />And we’ve started eating chicken provençale.<br /><br />Many thousands flock to Lourdes in the hope of being cured,<br />We’ve started winning in the Parc des Princes.<br />There’s a veritable litany of holiday homes in Brittany,<br />Since Charlie Haughey won the Tour de France.<br /><br />But relations have been strained and dissatisfaction’s reigned,<br />A new mistrust has suddenly been born.<br />Now far fewer people want to fly with Ryanair to Nantes,<br />The hand of friendship’s definitely withdrawn.<br /><br />Oh that sad November night when the French whooped with delight<br />As Thierry hopped the ball like Barney Rock.<br />How we watched with disbelief, wallowed in our pool of grief<br />And never quite recovered from the shock.<br /><br />“What base treachery is this?” we indignantly did hiss.<br />“Never was an act so foul or callous!<br />A blind man on a horse could have seen that, yes of course,<br />He handled it before he crossed to Gallas.<br /><br />Yes Henry the skilful Frenchman had become the Devil’s henchman,<br />The arm came out and then was seen to straighten.<br />And it was a massive cod to say it was the Hand of God<br />When we all knew it was the Hand of Satan.<br /><br />Did the divil grease his palm? Did he think it was no ‘arm?<br />Did he think he wore the blue of Tipperary?<br />Though I’ll say with no codology that the après-match apology<br />Was handled very well by our Thierry.<br /><br />There was nothing we could do, except accept the French were through,<br />Platini strangely failed to intervene.<br />And to top that, two days later, we’d the little Mayfield traitor<br />Stick the knife into the Boys in Green.<br /><br />One would hope such blatant cheating would have made their triumph fleeting<br />And perhaps their World Cup group would be a bastard.<br />Maybe Spain, Brazil and Italy (we all yearned for, somewhat bitterly)<br />A thrashing in each game would be forecasted.<br /><br />But they got Fiji; they got Lapland and some other bleedin’ crap land –<br />That Domenech is such a jammy sod.<br />They need only to turn up to progress further in the Cup –<br />Further proof, if needed, there’s no God.<br /><br />So when the World Cup comes around where will Irish folk be found?<br />Not in bleedin’ Jo’burg, that’s for sure.<br />But neither will we be in Biarritz or Normandy –<br />The tourist numbers there will be much fewer.<br /><br />There will be no Wild Geese sitting in the square in Nice,<br />No time Toulouse, no wish to see Toulon.<br />And by God, we will not go to either Provence or Bordeaux –<br />There’s no beach I will lay my Carcassonne.<br /><br />Yes, belle France will join the list of the countries I’ve dismissed,<br />When working out my summer holiday,<br />Macedonia, Ukraine, Holland, Mexico and Spain,<br />Liechtenstein and Greece, Poland, Russia and La Suisse,<br />Mongolia and Malta, Guatemala and Gibraltar,<br />Turkey and Slovenia, why not throw in Abysseenia?<br />Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia and Albania,<br />Korea and Japan, don’t forget the Isle of Man –<br />It looks like I’ll be heading down to Bray.Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-83749366526685721112009-12-05T21:39:00.005+00:002009-12-05T21:43:49.795+00:00Ce n’est pas la guerre<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveG23SaeIDRRFwIgcymq3A7sBU6IGM6W_mXUREhGRh_leTjVVbDMGVVwCVwq1ASIEUf1y1t-9Ivew7hhyphenhyphenJaWvuvVfxxiiMIAPdiF9EFNZnrw-pz1lA6W0rH3Ppgwo56p334tUPCXfq9w/s1600-h/platini.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411870736994673282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveG23SaeIDRRFwIgcymq3A7sBU6IGM6W_mXUREhGRh_leTjVVbDMGVVwCVwq1ASIEUf1y1t-9Ivew7hhyphenhyphenJaWvuvVfxxiiMIAPdiF9EFNZnrw-pz1lA6W0rH3Ppgwo56p334tUPCXfq9w/s400/platini.jpg" border="0" /></a> We knew it was over when FIFA declared<br />The play offs were going to be seeded.<br />No matter how well little Ireland had fared,<br />‘Twas the French that the World Cup brass needed.<br /><br />We knew all too well that they wanted the French<br />And their audience of seventy millions.<br />‘Twas better by far if we sat on the bench<br />And watched, and not played, the Brazilians.<br /><br />Televisual rights, for a country like ours,<br />Was not going to swell FIFA coffers.<br />And so, no surprise that the footballing powers,<br />Decided to steal our dreams off us.<br /><br />The Finals approach and the French will be there,<br />Despite all the cynics and doubters.<br />I hope they do well, but ce n’est pas la guerre<br />As the spectacle happens without us.<br /><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em>Strangely I was more disgusted by FIFA's sudden decision to seed the playoffs than by Henry's hand ball<br /></em><br /></div></div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-30611246404353149162009-10-26T23:50:00.002+00:002009-10-26T23:51:29.985+00:00Three minute hero<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0F1ldy_Ew8y2Wr9npb61zLHiCpA7abFzUOEA7wkxRSIJiqZNQavn1hXpLe5chX2s2b3Au1XfplC7UATj6Batj7EQKH_fwc91Weg6pg0pgnohyphenhyphenZTVwxeJhA9QRBYz0adw8_kyjO-ch1o/s1600-h/0002a9f7-674.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397060410440598962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0F1ldy_Ew8y2Wr9npb61zLHiCpA7abFzUOEA7wkxRSIJiqZNQavn1hXpLe5chX2s2b3Au1XfplC7UATj6Batj7EQKH_fwc91Weg6pg0pgnohyphenhyphenZTVwxeJhA9QRBYz0adw8_kyjO-ch1o/s400/0002a9f7-674.jpg" border="0" /></a> Like Alan McLoughlin, it could’ve been permanent,<br />His name writ forever in Ireland’s bright firmament.<br />There could’ve been fireworks, a legend forever,<br />Writ loud in the annals of Irish endeavour.<br /><br />So closed to attaining that scarce immortality,<br />Snatched cruelly away by the jaws of banality,<br />St. Ledger, your hands were out grasping the crown,<br />Till Alberto Gilardino’s late blow struck you down.<br /> <br /></div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-49413545805605993722009-07-10T14:30:00.001+01:002009-07-10T14:35:34.680+01:00Priorities<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QllG0AzZZ0_UHe4qbWcumXTyd5ykYcHM-kJT5w5D-w5sE-BTW15X-1WkDbpw7TKgCgjyldV7ZfUBgZbxluPRhrWohfayBcBvsZBE2yX-TgRge1sYCwfHwjXISZKfaKQ0J9GYsAeOQfI/s1600-h/rep-ireland-1-1-bulgaria-pic-getty-879721336.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356824566752346690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 297px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QllG0AzZZ0_UHe4qbWcumXTyd5ykYcHM-kJT5w5D-w5sE-BTW15X-1WkDbpw7TKgCgjyldV7ZfUBgZbxluPRhrWohfayBcBvsZBE2yX-TgRge1sYCwfHwjXISZKfaKQ0J9GYsAeOQfI/s400/rep-ireland-1-1-bulgaria-pic-getty-879721336.jpg" border="0" /></a> As they lowered you down in the cold, clammy clay,<br />Distinctly I heard you knock-knocking.<br />The rest of the fam’ly had all turned away,<br />Only I saw the pine coffin rocking.<br /><br />I should have cried “Halt! I believe she’s alive!”<br />I should have said something, dear Nellie,<br />But, alas, all I knew was at quarter past five,<br />Ireland were playing on the telly.<br /><br /></div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-5120604228543819502009-03-29T00:42:00.001+00:002009-07-10T14:37:51.416+01:00Bigmouth strikes again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61-pS1bMR1aRRvHnqN2u0z_bLCeA6N6NNvdfq2ubdxqPrUHBpcodW45LDfezlPoCPT2Y3jy5d6fsPlighpP2Xm14gBe5h0nSFF6HHkkaDKSzqazo9cET_2X1kCmxECXmgpXz5UpItQBY/s1600-h/george.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356825135274160306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61-pS1bMR1aRRvHnqN2u0z_bLCeA6N6NNvdfq2ubdxqPrUHBpcodW45LDfezlPoCPT2Y3jy5d6fsPlighpP2Xm14gBe5h0nSFF6HHkkaDKSzqazo9cET_2X1kCmxECXmgpXz5UpItQBY/s400/george.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">“Man of the match!” shouted Georgie<br />“Is awarded to young Kevin Doyle!”<br />And then he went into an orgy<br />Of praise for the blonde Irish Royal.<br /><br />He’d run any niggly knocks off<br />And torn at the Bulgar defence.<br />He’d worked his proverbial socks off.<br />His worth to the team was immense.<br /><br />As soon as the words had been spoken,<br />The ball came to Doyle five yards out.<br />Resistance would surely be token!<br />The nation drew breath to let shout.<br /><br />The header was weak and untesting.<br />Their goalie breathed sighs of relief.<br />We spent several minutes divesting<br />Ourselves of our palpable grief.<br /><br />“Man of the match?” we repeated,<br />In tones unforgiving and callous,<br />While Kev stood there pale and defeated,<br />Staring down at the poison-filled chalice. </div><div align="center">.</div><div align="center">Ireland 1 Bulgaria 1 2010 WC Qualifier</div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3769951171636149986.post-84693938676311463342009-02-17T16:51:00.001+00:002009-02-17T16:58:28.359+00:00Highway robbery<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6JkHIZHGLQrfrIdsWaMOdcnRFAZadpdB1twhENjdavUNqfg6EiWsGzgSMTNVAGBQFs8EWvh_pB5_hYGQdpG_XG-0m-_yp0JgXivdXJGIuxwIPHlLXyix8S01WRArYD8HzCOIUOnnYC8/s1600-h/DickTurpin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303811516258589202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6JkHIZHGLQrfrIdsWaMOdcnRFAZadpdB1twhENjdavUNqfg6EiWsGzgSMTNVAGBQFs8EWvh_pB5_hYGQdpG_XG-0m-_yp0JgXivdXJGIuxwIPHlLXyix8S01WRArYD8HzCOIUOnnYC8/s400/DickTurpin.jpg" border="0" /></a> “Stand and deliver!”<br />The words sent a shiver<br />Through those on the road to the Cape.<br />The Georgians peered out<br />When they heard the fierce shout,<br />But they’d no means by which to escape.<br /><br />On eleven black horses,<br />The feared em’rald forces<br />Stood waiting, their pistols well cocked.<br />And a deafening barrage<br />Of shots rocked the carriage,<br />The roadway now totally blocked.<br /><br />“Hand over the goods!”<br />Snarled the men in the hoods,<br />As the Georgians shrank back with a yell.<br />“And you’d better not tarry<br />Or these bullets will carry<br />You off to the great fires of Hell!”<br /><br />There was naught they could do.<br />They were right in the stew,<br />As they looked out, confused yet resigned.<br />The three points were delivered<br />And the Fates roundly shivered<br />As we robbed the poor travellers blind.<br /><br /></div>Peter Gouldinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292063172122249202noreply@blogger.com0